Information Output System and Method

ABSTRACT

To provide an information output system and an information output method capable of providing appropriate information for the user&#39;s current situation. The operation device comprises a state detection section for detecting a posture of the operation device, and a state information transmission section for transmitting state information to a home-use computer based on the state detected by the state detection section. The home-use computer outputs information depending on the state information transmitted by the state information transmission section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information output system and aninformation output method.

In recent years, a communication environment in which people can accessthe Internet at any time from anywhere via a wireless LAN and/or aportable telephone network has become popular. Consequently, people canaccess the data obtained in advance in their houses or work places, evenoutside these places.

However, according to a conventional technique, information obtainablefor the user through communication remains unchanged regardless of thesituation in which the user stays. This leads to a problem thatinformation appropriate for the user's current situation is not readilyprovided to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above, and anobject thereof is to provide information output system and methodcapable of providing appropriate information depending on the user'scurrent situation.

In order to solve the above described problems, according to one aspectof the present invention, there is provided an information output systemcomprising a portable operation device and one or more informationoutput devices connected to the operation device for communication. Theoperation device includes state detection means for detecting a state ofthe operation device or a user of the operation device, including atleast a posture of the operation device, and state informationtransmission means for transmitting state information to any of theinformation output devices based on the state detected by the statedetection means. Each of the information output devices includesinformation output means for outputting information depending on thestate information transmitted by the state information transmissionmeans.

In the above, the state detection means may sequentially detect thestate of the operation device or the user of the operation device. Theoperation device may further comprise state storage means for storingthe states sequentially detected by the state detection means. The stateinformation transmission means may transmit the state information basedon the states stored in the state storage means, when beginning acommunication with any of the information output devices.

In the above, the state detection means may detect the state of theoperation device or the user of the operation device, further includinga position of the operation device.

In the above, the state detection means may detect the state of theoperation device or the user of the operation device, further includingat least one of the user's fingerprint and heart rate (number of heartbeat).

In the above, the information output means may output informationfurther depending on a communication path between the operation deviceand the information output device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information output method, comprising a state detection step, carriedout by a portable operation device, of detecting a state of theoperation device or a user of the operation device, including at least aposture of the operation device; a state information transmission step,carried out by the operation device, of transmitting state informationto an information output device connected for communication to theoperation device, based on the state detected at the state detectionstep; and an information output step, carried out by the informationoutput device, of outputting information depending on the stateinformation transmitted at the state information transmission step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall structure of an informationprocessing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of anoperation device;

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining data detected by the operation device;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the image of a service menu screen which ahome-use computer in the user's home provides to the operation devicecarried by the user when the user is in their home;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the image of a service menu screen which thehome-use computer in the friend's home provides to the operation devicecarried by the user when the user is in their friend's home;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the image of a service menu screen which thehome-use computer in the user's home provides via a communicationnetwork to the operation device carried by the user when the user iswalking outside their home;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the image of a service menu screen which thehome-use computer in the user's home provides via a communicationnetwork to the operation device carried by the user when the user is notwalking outside their home;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the image of a service menu screen providedby the operation device itself without communication with the home-usecomputer in the user's home, when the user is walking outside theirhome;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the image of a service menu screen providedby the operation device itself without communication with the home-usecomputer in the user's home, when the user is not walking outside theirhome;

FIG. 10 is a diagram explaining a method for producing the image of ascreen to be shown on a monitor such as a TV receiver or the like duringexecution of an image viewing program;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a space image shown on amonitor such as a TV receiver or the like during execution of an imageviewing program;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image collective displayscreen shown on a monitor such as a TV receiver or the like duringexecution of an image viewing program;

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram for the operation device;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a structure of a home-use computer;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a process carried out by the operation devicewhen beginning a normal operation; and

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram for the home-use computer duringexecution of an image viewing program.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following, one embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall structure of an informationprocessing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system 10 is constructedcomprising a plurality of home-use computers 18 a through 18 x, aplurality of wireless communication base stations 20-1 through 20-n, anda server computer 14, all connected to a communication network 12 suchas the Internet, or the like.

Each of the home-use computers 18 a through 18 x is a computer installedin a user's home, and connected to home electrical appliances such as ahome-use television set receiver, and so forth, functioning as a homeserver. Each of the home-use computers 18 a through 18 x obtains a gameprogram by reading from a computer readable information storage medium,such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and so forth, or downloading from theserver computer 14, and executes the obtained program to provide theuser with a game. It should be noted that in the following description,matters common to all home-use computers 18 a through 18 x are describedwhile simply referring to a home-use computer 18.

The home-use computer 18 utilizes an operation device 22 as an operationinput means. The operation device 22 is a portable computer having arectangular thin-box shape with an external appearance such as is shownin FIG. 2 and a liquid crystal display panel 40 mounted in the middle ofthe front surface thereof. A direction key 30 is provided on the leftside of the display panel 40, and a button group 32 including buttons32A through 32D is provided on the right side thereof. Auxiliary buttons34L, 34R are provided on one lateral side of the operation device 22,with a power button 42 for switching the operation modes of theoperation device 22 between a standby mode (a power saving operationmode) and a normal operation mode being provided on the other lateralside thereof.

The operation device 22 has a gyroscope 38 built-in the middle portionthereof in the longitudinal direction and an acceleration sensor 36built-in on the side of the gyroscope 38. The acceleration sensor 36 isa triaxial acceleration sensor for detecting accelerations in threemutually orthogonal directions. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, theacceleration sensor 36 detects acceleration in the X-direction, or theright-left direction (a longitudinal direction) of the operation device22, caused by gravity and movement of the operation device 22,acceleration in the Y-direction, or the depth direction (a shorter-sidedirection) of the operation device 22, caused by gravity and movement ofthe operation device 22, and acceleration in the Z-direction, or thewidth direction of the operation device 22, caused by gravity andmovement of the operation device 22.

Based on the accelerations in the three directions, the operation device22 and the home-use computer 18 can determine the posture of theoperation device 22. Specifically, the amounts of rotations of theoperation device 22 relative to the Y-axis (codes XU and XD) and theX-axis (codes YU and YD), respectively, can be determined. Also,acceleration caused by the operation device 22 moving vertically can bedetermined (codes ZU and ZD). With this arrangement, the operationdevice 22 and the home-use computer 18 can know that the operationdevice 22 is lifted, or placed, in the vertical direction. Further, anangular velocity ω of the rotation around the Z-direction, or the widthdirection of the operation device 22, can be also determined using thegyroscope 38, which is built-in in the operation device 22, as describedabove.

The home-use computer 18 and the operation device 22 each have awireless communication means, such as BlueTooth (trademark), a wirelessLAN, and so forth. This allows the operation device 22 to transmit byair the data obtained by the acceleration sensor 36 and/or the gyroscope38 and the states of input of, and the results of processing by, thebutton group 32, the auxiliary button 34, and the direction key 30, tothe home-use computer 18. Having received the data from the operationdevice 22, the home-use computer 18 carries out various informationprocesses according to the data.

The result of information processing is displayed by a TV receiver, oroutput as sound via the built-in speaker thereof. The result may beadditionally sent to the operation device 22, as necessary, to bedisplayed on the display panel 40, or output as sound via the built-inspeaker thereof.

Here, the operation device 22 is capable of wireless communication withany home-use computer 18. Therefore, the user having brought theiroperation device 22 with them to another user's home can establishcommunication between their operation device 22 and the home-usecomputer 18 in that place. Also, the user can establish communicationbetween their operation device 22 and the home-use computer 18 in theirhome via the home-use computer 18 in the other user's home and thecommunication network 12.

Each of the wireless communication base stations 20-1 through 20-n has awireless communication means such as BlueTooth (trademark), a wirelessLAN, and so forth. Each of the wireless communication base stations 20-1through 20-n carries out data communication by air with an operationdevice 22 to relay communication by the operation device 22 with theserver computer 14 and/or the home-use computer 18 in the user's homevia the communication network 12.

As the wireless communication base stations 20-1 through 20-n areinstalled in public facilities such as a station, or the like, the userhaving brought their operation device 22 with them to outside their homecan access the home-use computer 18 in their home and the servercomputer 14 via any of these wireless communication base stations 20-1through 20-n and the communication network 12.

The server computer 14 is a known computer to which a database 16 isconnected. The database 16 stores e-mails addressing the user and gamesand other data to be distributed to the user in the manner of beingassociated with the identification information of the user of eachhome-use computer 18. The server computer 14, in response to theidentification information sent from the user of each home-use computer18 using their operating device 22, returns the e-mails and other datastored in the database 16 associated with the identificationinformation. It should be noted that the server computer 14 maydistribute various other data to the home-use computer 18 and theoperation device 22.

The above-described structure allows the user to send operationalsignals to the home-use computer 18 in their home, using their operationdevice 22, to thereby control the operation thereof. In addition,operating the operation device 22, the user can control the homeelectrical appliance, such as a TV receiver, and so forth, which isconnected to the home-use computer 18, so as to operate as desired. Forexample, using the operation device 22, the user can control thehome-use computer 18 so as to execute a game program, and to display thecontent of the execution in the TV receiver. Also, the user using theoperation device 22 can operate the game.

Further, the user using the operation device 22 can arrange to displayimages, including ones captured using a digital still camera and/oranother stored in the home-use computer 18 or any memory device (notshown) connected thereto, in a TV receiver, and select some of thedisplayed images to be processed as predetermined, such as printing, andso forth, for example. Still further, as the home-use computer 18 isconnected to the communication network 12, the user using the operationdevice 22 can receive e-mails or other data from the server computer 14,and display in the TV receiver or on the display panel 40.

When the user is outside their home carrying their operation device 22with them, the user can connect the operation device 22 to the home-usecomputer 18 in their friend's home for communication. In this case, twooperation devices 22, that is, the user's and the user's friend's, areconnected to the home-use computer 18 in the friend's home. This allowsthe user and the friend to operate an application program usable by twoor more people, such as a match game or the like, using their operationdevices 22. In addition, the user can establish data communication viathe communication network 12 between their operation device 22 and thehome-use computer 18 in their home and/or the server computer 14, usingthe home-use computer 18 in the friend's home as a relay device.

Likewise, when the user is outside their home carrying their operationdevice 22 with them, the user can connect the operation device 22 to anyof the wireless communication base stations 20-1 through 20-n in publicfacilities, such as a station or the like. Also in this case, it ispossible to establish data communication between the user's operationdevice 22 and the home-use computer 18 in the user's home and/or theserver computer 14 via the communication network 12.

In this embodiment, the operation device 22 has the acceleration sensor36 and the gyroscope 38, and movement or change in posture of theoperation device 22 affects outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 andthe gyroscope 38. Outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 and thegyroscope 38 can be wirelessly transmitted as operational signals to thehome-use computer 18 and the server computer 14. That is, the user caninstruct the home-use computer 18 and the server computer 14 to operateas desired, by moving or changing the posture of the operation device22.

In this embodiment, the outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 and thegyroscope 38 are referred to in determination of the states of theoperation device 22 and the user thereof. Specifically, outputs of theacceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38 are stored in the operationdevice 22 every predetermined period of time, so that the states of theoperation device 22 and the user thereof are determined based on thecontent stored in the operation device 22 and output pattern informationprepared in advance concerning the outputs of the acceleration sensor 36and the gyroscope 38. For example, suppose that a pattern is found, inwhich outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38 remainunchanged for a predetermined period of time, followed by detection ofacceleration in the Z-direction by the acceleration sensor 36. In thiscase, it is determined that the user takes up (picks up) the operationdevice 22.

It should be noted that, when outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 andthe gyroscope 38 remain unchanged for a predetermined period of time,the operation device 22 switches the operation mode thereof to a standby mode (a power saving operation mode) with smaller power consumption,while continuing determination of the states of the operation device 22and the user thereof based on the outputs of the acceleration sensor 36and the gyroscope 38. When it is determined that the user picks up theoperation device 22, as described above, the operation device 22 thenoperating in the standby mode shifts the current operation mode to thenormal operation mode. Further, the operation device 22 sends anoperation instruction to the home-use computer 18 in the user's home,instructing to stop operating in the standby mode (the power savingoperation mode) and to begin operating in the normal operation mode.This arrangement allows the user to control the home-use computer 18 soas to begin operating in the normal operation mode, without applying aspecific operation such as pressing the power button of the operationdevice 22, or the like.

When the acceleration sensor 36 detects negative acceleration in theZ-direction, followed by outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 and thegyroscope 38 remaining unchanged for a predetermined period of time, theoperation device 22 determines that the user places the operation device22 on a table. In this case, the operation device 22 sends an operationinstruction to the home-use computer 18 in the user's home, instructingto stop operating in the normal operation mode and to begin operating inthe standby mode.

When it is determined, based on an output from the acceleration sensor36, that the operation device 22 moves up and down in a constantdirection, it is determined that the user is walking or running whilecarrying the operation device 22 with them. Suppose that it isdetermined that the user is outside their home, that is, the home-usecomputer 18 is out of the communicable area with the home-use computer18, and that the user is walking or running while carrying the operationdevice 22 with them, as described above. In this case, the operationdevice 22 sends a message telling that the user is walking or running tothe home-use computer 18 in the user's home. Thereupon, the home-usecomputer 18 in the user's home returns data for showing a service menuscreen appropriate for the user's current situation on the display panel40.

When acceleration in a constant direction continues over a predeterminedperiod of time, it is determined that the user is utilizing a movementmeans such as a vehicle, a train, and so forth. Suppose that it isdetermined that the user is outside their home, that is, the home-usecomputer 18 is out of the communicable area with the home-use computer18, and that the user is utilizing a movement means such as a vehicle, atrain, or the like, while carrying their operation device 22, asdescribed above. In this case, the operation device 22 sends a messagetelling that the user is utilizing a movement means to the home-usecomputer 18 in the user's home. Thereupon, the home-use computer 18 inthe user's home returns data for showing a service menu screenappropriate for the user's current situation on the display panel 40.

In this embodiment, when direct wireless communication can beestablished between the operation device 22 and the home-use computer 18in the user's home via no intervening communication network 12, thehome-use computer 18 produces the data of a service menu screen, asshown in FIG. 4, which contains four menus items, namely, “watch TV” fordisplaying content of TV broadcasting in a TV receiver connected to thehome-use computer 18; “play game” for causing the home-use computer 18to execute a game program; “check e-mail” for accessing the servercomputer 14 from the home-use computer 18 to receive e-mails addressingthe user and to display in the TV receiver or the display panel 40; and“view images” for displaying images stored in the home-use computer 18or the memory device (not shown) connected thereto in the TV receiver.Then, the produced data is sent to the operation device 22, and thescreen image is displayed on the display panel 40 thereof.

When direct wireless communication can be established between theoperation device 22 and the home-use computer 18 in the user's friend'shome via no intervening communication network 12, the home-use computer18 in the user's home produces the data of a service menu screen, asshown in FIG. 5, which contains two menu items, namely “play game withfriend” for causing the home-use computer 18 in the friend's home toexecute a game program and to play a game with a friend, and “checke-mail” for receiving e-mails addressing the user from the servercomputer 14 via the home-use computer 18 in the friend's home serving asa relay device and to display on the display panel 40. Then, theproduced data is sent to the operation device 22, and the screen imageis displayed on the display panel 40 thereof.

When direct wireless communication cannot be established between theoperation device 22 and any home-use computer 18, but can be establishedbetween the operation device 22 and any of the wireless communicationbase stations 20-1 through 20-n, and further when it is determined thatthe user is walking or running while carrying the operation device 22with them, as described above, the home-use computer 18 in the user'shome produces the data of a service menu screen, as shown in FIG. 6,which contains two items, namely “listen to music” for down loadingmusic data from the home-use computer 18 a in the user's home toreproduce and output, and “look at map” for downloading map data fromthe home-use computer 18 a in the user's home to display on the displaypanel 40. Then, the produced data is sent to the operation device 22,and the screen image is displayed on the display panel 40 thereof.

In cases similar to the above, that is, when direct wirelesscommunication cannot be established between the operation device 22 andany home-use computer 18, but can be established between the operationdevice and any of the wireless communication base stations 20-1 through20-n, and further when it is determined that the user is utilizing amovement means, the home-use computer 18 in the user's home produces thedata of a service menu screen, as shown in FIG. 7, which contains threeitems, namely “listen to music” for downloading music data from thehome-use computer 18 a in the user's home to reproduce and output; “playdown loadable mini-game” for downloading a communication game programfrom the home-use computer 18 a in the user's home to be executed by theoperation device 22; and “check e-mail” for receiving e-mails addressingthe user from the server computer 14 to display on the display panel 40.Then, the produced data is sent to the operation device 22, and thescreen image is displayed on the display panel 40 thereof.

When communication cannot be established with either any home-usecomputer 18 a through 18 x or any wireless communication base station20-1 through 20-n, a service menu screen such as is shown in FIG. 8 or 9is shown depending on the state of the operation device 22. That is,when it is determined that the user is walking or running while carryingthe operation device 22, as described above, the operation device 22produces the data of a service menu screen, as shown in FIG. 8, whichcontains one menu item, namely, “listen to music” for reproducing musicdata stored in the operation device 22 itself. Then, the produced screenimage is displayed on the display panel 40.

Alternatively, when it is determined that the user is utilizing amovement means, the operation device 22 produces the image of a menuscreen, as shown in FIG. 9, which contains two menu items, namely,“listen to music” for reproducing music data stored in the operationdevice 22 itself, and “play mini-game” for executing a game programstored in the operation device 22 itself.

In this embodiment, it is possible to design the operation device 22having the acceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38, and to controlthe home-use computer 18 based on the movement and posture of theoperation device 22. In addition, as the states of the operation device22 and the user thereof can be determined based on the outputs of theacceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38, an appropriate service menuscreen can be displayed according to the result of determination. Thisarrangement can improve user convenience.

In the following, a process to display an image stored in the home-usecomputer 18 or the memory device connected thereto in a TV receiver willbe described as an exemplary operation of the home-use computer 18. Thefollowing process is realized by the home-use computer 18 by executingan image viewer program. Specifically, the process is executed by thehome-user computer 18 in the user's home when the user selects “look atimage” in the service menu shown in FIG. 4, using the operation device22.

The program may be stored in a computer readable information storagemedium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and so forth, for example, andinstalled therefrom into the home-use computer 18. Alternatively, theprogram may be downloaded to the home-use computer 18 from othercomputers via the communication network 12.

In order to use the home-use computer 18 as an image viewer, forexample, a lot of image data is stored in advance in a built-in orexternal hard disk. The image data may be read from various storagemedia or downloaded from other devices in the communication network 12.The image data may have various contents, including an image captured bythe user or other people or created using paint software.

In this embodiment, data on thumbnail images having smaller data sizesis produced in advance with respect to the lot of image data. Inaddition, a virtual three-dimensional space is constructed in the memoryof the home-use computer 18, in which many image objects having thethumbnail image data mapped thereon as a texture are placed. FIG. 10shows one example of the virtual space. As shown in FIG. 10, many imageobjects 52 are placed in the virtual three-dimensional space 50. Each ofthe image objects 52 is a rectangular object onto which a thumbnailimage is mapped as a texture.

The position coordinates of each image object 52 in the virtualthree-dimensional space 50 are determined based on the attribute of eachimage data item. That is, a characteristic vector indicative of thecharacteristic feature of each image data item is obtained based on thecontent of the image data (information on a color used or spacefrequency, result of recognition such as face recognition, and so forth)and auxiliary information of the image data (a time stamp, a file name,content of other document data relevant to the image data), and theposition coordinates of the image object 52 relevant to the image datais determined based on the characteristic vector.

With this arrangement, image objects 52 placed closer in the virtualspace 50 are given images to be mapped thereon, which have contentsimilar to each other. This arrangement allows the user to find an imageobject 52 relevant to their desired image, while relying on thepositional relationship among the respective image objects 52 in thevirtual space 50.

A viewpoint 56 is defined in the virtual three-dimensional space 50, anda viewing direction 54 is defined with respect to the viewpoint 56. Theviewpoint 56 is desirably movable within the virtual three-dimensionalspace 50 according to the operation carried out using the operationdevice 22. The viewing direction 54 can be defined in a desireddirection according to the operation carried out using the operationdevice 22. The posture of each of the image objects 52 is determined ona real time basis so as to face the viewpoint 56. That is, each of theimage objects 52 changes the posture thereof, following the movement ofthe viewpoint 56.

Specifically, when the operation device 22 is tilted toward the otherside of the user, and rotation of the operation device 22 in onedirection around the X-axis shown in FIG. 3 is detected based on theoutput from the acceleration sensor 36, the viewpoint 56 is moved inviewing direction 54. When the operation device 22 is tilted toward theuser, and the rotation of the operation device 22 in the oppositedirection from that described above around the X-axis shown in FIG. 3 isdetected based on the output from the acceleration sensor 36, theviewpoint 56 is moved in the opposite direction from the above in theviewing direction 54.

When the operation device 22 is tilted rightward, and rotation of theoperation device 22 in one direction around the Y-axis shown in FIG. 3is detected based on an output from the acceleration sensor 36, theviewpoint 56 is moved in the rightward direction. When the operationdevice 22 is tilted leftward, and rotation of the operation device 22 inthe opposite direction from that described above around the Y-axis shownin FIG. 3 is detected based on the output from the acceleration sensor36, the viewpoint 56 is moved in the leftward direction. When movementof the operation device 22 in the Z-direction shown in FIG. 3 isdetected based on the output from the acceleration sensor 36, theviewpoint 56 is moved upward. When movement of the operation device 22in the opposite direction from the Z-direction is detected based on theoutput from the acceleration sensor 36, the viewpoint 56 is moveddownward. Further, the viewing direction 54 is rotated based on theoutput from the gyroscope 38.

The home-use computer 18 produces an image (a space image) of thepicture viewed from the viewpoint 56 in the viewing direction 54 on areal time basis (every predetermined period of time), utilizing a knowntechnique for three-dimensional computer graphics, and displays in theTV receiver. FIG. 11( a) shows one example of such a space image. Asshown in FIG. 11( a), in the space image, a cursor 58 for designating apartial area (a small quadrangular area) in the space image is shown inaddition to the image objects 52. The position of the cursor 58 in thespace image (the two-dimensional position) is updated according to inputof the direction key 30. That is, upward operation of the direction key30 leads to upward movement of the cursor 58 in the space image;downward operation of the direction key 30 leads to downward movement ofthe cursor 58 in the space image; rightward operation of the directionkey 30 leads to rightward movement of the cursor 58 in the space image;and left operation of the direction key 30 leads to leftward movement ofthe cursor 58 in the space image.

Further, pressing the button 32C of the operation device 22 effectsselection of the image object 52 displayed in the area then designatedby the cursor 58 in the space image. That is, all of the image objects52 (candidate objects) displayed in the area designated by the cursor 58in the space image are selected. It should be noted that, in real-timeproduction and display of the space image, it is preferable that theimage objects 52 displayed in the area designated by the cursor 58 inthe space image are specified, and displayed in advance distinctivelyfrom other image objects 52, for example, by being framed or indifferent colors. This arrangement helps the user know in advance whichimage objects 52 are to be selected in response to the button 32Cpressed. The operation device 22 sequentially stores the identificationinformation of the image objects 52 selected as described above.

It should be noted that some of the image objects 52 displayed in thearea designated by the cursor 58 in the space image may be selectedbased on a predetermined criterion in response to the button 32Cpressed. For example, the distance between the viewpoint 56 and each ofthe image objects 52 which are candidate objects is calculated, so thatan image object 52 having a distance smaller than a predetermined valuemay be selected. Alternatively, a predetermined number of image objects52 may be selected sequentially beginning with the image object havingthe smallest distance in ascending order. Still alternatively, some orall of the image objects 52 which are candidate objects may be selectedbased on the correlation between the attribute (the above-describedcharacteristic vector) of each of the image objects 52 which arecandidate objects and a characteristic vector representative of theuser's taste. Yet alternatively, some or all of the image objects 52which are candidate objects may be selected based on the display area ofeach image object 52 in the area designated by the cursor 58 (adesignated area) in the space image. For example, an image object 52having the largest display area in the designated area maybe selected.In this case, it is preferable that an image object 52, among thosedisplayed in the space image designed by the cursor 58, which satisfiesa predetermined criterion, may be displayed distinctively from theothers.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11( b), a linear object 59 may be definedin the virtual three dimensional space 50 every time an image object 52is newly selected, which extends between the position of the selectedimage object 52 in the virtual three-dimensional space 50 and theposition 51 ahead of the view point 56 in the forwarding direction (thedirection of the viewing direction 54) by a predetermined distance, andthe linear object 59 is displayed in the TV receiver. This arrangementis preferable as it helps the user instinctively recognize the directionin which the selected image object 52 is located.

Thereafter, when the auxiliary button 34R of the operation device 22 ispressed, the home-use computer 18 obtains the image data correspondingto the image object 52 selected by the user and identified by theidentification information stored, and displays in a list format in theTV receiver. FIG. 12 shows one example of the list display screen.

In this embodiment, tilting, upward and downward movement, and rotationon a horizontal plane of the operation device 22 is reflected in theoutputs of the acceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38. Data on theoutputs is sent from the operation device 22 to the home-use computer18, where the viewpoint 56 and the viewing direction 54 are changedbased on the data.

Also, when the direction key 30 of the operation device 22 is operated,the operation device 22 sends data describing the content of theoperation relative to the direction key 30 to the home-use computer 18,where the position of the cursor 58 in the space image is changed basedon the data. Then, in response to the button 32C pressed, some or all ofthe image objects 52 which are then displayed in the area designated bythe cursor 68 are selected. The identification information of the thusselected image objects 52 is sequentially stored in the memory of thehome-use computer 18, and later used for collective display in the TVreceiver in response to the auxiliary button 34R pressed.

The above-described user interface enables smooth selection of a desiredone of the image objects 52 located apart from one another in thevirtual three-dimensional space 50, and collective or list display ofthe relevant image. This arrangement can facilitate operations, such asselection of a print object, collective editing, and so forth, withreference to the list.

It should be noted that although it is arranged in the above descriptionthat the image objects 52 are placed in the virtual three dimensionalspace 50 so that the images can be reviewed in response to the user'soperation, the present invention can be similarly applied to selectionof service and/or other contents such as a moving image, a game, and soforth, as well as an image. In this application, similar to the case ofan image object 52, an object having an image representative of thecontent or service content mapped thereon as a texture may be placed inthe virtual three-dimensional space 50, and after selection of some ofthe objects, as described above, the selected objects may becollectively processed later for display or the like.

In the following, a structure of the operation device 22 will bedescribed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a functional structure of theoperation device 22. As shown in FIG. 13, the operation device 22comprises, in terms of functions, an input section 96, a calibrationsection 82, an input history storage section 84, a pattern detectionsection 86, a control section 88, a communication section 90, a displaysection 94, and a sound output section 92. These functions are realizedby the operation device 22, or a computer, by carrying out a programstored in the ROM of the operation device 22.

The input section 96 comprises a button operation section 96 a and astate detection section 96 b. The button operation section 96 a is usedto sequentially detect, every predetermined period of time, whether ornot the button group 32, the auxiliary button 34, and the direction key30 are pressed. The state detection section 96 b is used to sequentiallydetermine the state of the operation device 22 every predeterminedperiod of time. In particular, the state detection section 96 bcomprises a gyroscope 38 for determining the angular velocity ofrotation around a predetermined axis of the operation device 22 and anacceleration sensor 36 for determining acceleration of the operationdevice 22. The state detection section 96 b may further have a positionmeasurement means such as a GPS, Polhemus, and so forth, as well as ageomagnetic sensor (a direction sensor).

It should be noted that, obviously, mutual calibration using theseplurality of kinds of detection results is applicable. Moreover, adetection result may be calibrated based on other detection results withhigh reliability. The state detection section 96 b may have a sensor fordetermining the user's state, such as blood pressure, pulsationfrequency, fingerprint, heart rate and so forth. The input section 96continues operating whether the operation device 22 is in the standbymode or the normal operation mode.

The input history storage section 84 sequentially stores the data inputvia the input section 96, including data identifying whether or not thebutton group 32, the auxiliary button 34, or the direction key 30 arepressed, and data on the outputs of the gyroscope 38 and theacceleration sensor 36. The input history storage section 84 continuesoperating whether the operation device 22 is in the standby mode or thenormal operation mode.

The calibration section 82 determines the standard posture of theoperation device 22 based on the content stored in the input historystorage section 84. For example, when it is known from the data storedin the input history storage section 84, that the operation device 22remains in a certain posture for a predetermined period of time, thecalibration section 82 determines that posture as the standard posture.The standard posture determined by the calibration section 82 issupplied to the control section 88.

The pattern detection section 86 monitors whether or not a predeterminedpattern appears in the data stored in the input history storage section84. The pattern detection section 86 continues monitoring in each modeof the standby mode and the normal operation mode. Specifically, in thestandby mode, whether or not data concerning a pattern (pattern 1) inwhich the operation device 22 remains still in a predetermined posturefor over a predetermined period of time and is subsequently moved in atleast the Z-direction is stored in the input history storage section 84is monitored. In the normal operation mode, on the other hand, whetheror not data concerning a pattern (pattern 2) corresponding to the user'sspecific behavior (walking, running, or moving using a movement means)is stored, as described above is monitored. In addition, whether or notdata concerning a pattern (pattern 3) in which the operation device 22remains in a predetermined posture for over a predetermined period oftime is stored is monitored.

The control section 88 carries out various information processes basedon the result of detection by the pattern detection section 86, variousinput data obtained by the input section 96, and data received by thecommunication section 90. The display section 94 shows an image on thedisplay panel 40 according to an instruction sent from the controlsection 88. The sound output section 92 outputs sound via a built-inspeaker of the operation device 22 according to an instruction sent fromthe control section 88.

Specifically, when the operation device 22 is in the standby mode andthe pattern detection section 86 detects that data on the pattern 1 isstored in the input history storage section 84, the control section 88changes the operation mode of the operation device 22 from the standbymode to the normal operation mode, and causes the operation device 22 tobegin operating in the normal operation mode. Thereafter, a service menuscreen is shown on the display panel 40 based on the communication pathbetween the operation device 22 and the home-use computer 18 and storageof data on which of the user's behavior relevant to the pattern 2 isdetected by the operation device 22, and so forth. Then, the controlsection 88 carries out an appropriate process depending on the user'sselection made on the service menu screen, and outputs the result of theprocessing via the display section 94 and the sound output section 92.In the above, the posture of the operation device 22 is determined basedon the data supplied from the input section 96, and displacement betweenthe determined posture and the standard posture determined by thecalibration section 83 is calculated. The calculated displacement datais used as the user's operation data.

It should be noted that, instead of determining the standard postureusing the calibration section 82, a part or the entirety of the contentstored in the input history storage section 84 may be transmitted to thehome-use computer 18, together with an instruction requesting to beginoperation in the normal operation mode, via the communication section90, so that the standard posture is determined based on the datareceived on the home-use computer 18 side (a control section 74 (FIG.14) to be described later). In this case, the home-use computer 18calculates a displacement between the posture of the operation device22, which is sent from the operation device 22, and the determinedstandard posture, so that the calculated displacement data is used asthe user's operation data.

Meanwhile, when the operation device 22 is in the normal operation mode,and the pattern detection section 86 detects that the data on thepattern 3 is stored in the input history storage section 84, theoperation device 22 ceases its operation in the normal operation modeand switches to the standby mode.

In the following, a structure of the home-use computer 18 will bedescribed. The home-use computer 18 is a known computer system asdescribed above, and constructed comprising, as shown in FIG. 14, afirst communication section 70, a second communication section 72, and acontrol section 74. The first communication section 70 is connected tothe communication network 12, and carries out data communication withother home-use computers 18 and the wireless communication base stations20-1 through 20-n or the server computer 14 via the communicationnetwork 12.

The second communication section 72 is a short distance wirelesscommunication means such as BlueTooth, or the like, and carries outdirect wireless data communication with the communication section 90 ofthe operation device 22.

The control section 74 is a computer for carrying out a program readfrom a computer readable information storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, aDVD-ROM, and so forth, or down loaded via the communication network 12.The control section 74 carries out the program based on the datadescribing the content of the user's operation, which is received usingthe second communication section 72 from the operation device 22. Thecontrol section 74 also carries out communication, as required, usingthe first communication section 71 with other devices in thecommunication network 12, and outputs the result of processing to the TVreceiver.

Here, a process to be carried out by the operation device 22 whenbeginning an operation in the normal operation mode will be described.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a process to be carried out when the operationdevice 22 begins operating in the normal operation mode. Specifically,the process shown in FIG. 15 is carried out when the user operates thepower button 42 of the operation device 22 to thereby explicitly switchthe operation mode of the operation device 22 from the standby mode tothe normal operation mode. The process is also carried out when thepattern detection section 86 finds data on the pattern 1 among thosestored in the input history storage section 84.

As shown in FIG. 15, in this process, a signal is sent to the home-usecomputer 18, instructing to begin operation in the normal operation mode(S101). This signal contains the ID of the operation device 22.

Then, when the home-use computer 18 in the user's home, that is, thehome-use computer 18 assigned with, or storing, the ID corresponding tothe ID contained in the signal, receives the signal using the secondcommunication section 72, while remaining in the standby mode, thehome-use computer 18 switches the operation mode from the standby modeto the normal operation mode. Then, the home-use computer 18 sends theimage of the service menu screen shown in FIG. 9 to the operation device22. Having received the data of the service menu screen, the operationdevice 22 displays the received data on the display panel 40 (S103).Thereafter, the operation device 22 begins operating as an operationmeans of the home-use computer 18 in the user's home (S104). That is,data describing the contents of various operations carried out relativeto the operation device 22 is corrected based on the standard posturedetermined by the calibration section 82, and then sent to the home-usecomputer 18.

Meanwhile, when the home-use computer 18 in the user's friend's home,that is, the home-use computer 18 which is not assigned with, orstoring, the ID corresponding to the ID contained in the signal sentfrom the operation device 22, receives the signal using the secondcommunication section 72, while remaining in the standby mode, thehome-use computer 18 switches the operation mode from the stand byoperation mode to the normal operation mode. There after, the home-usecomputer 18 in the friend's home accesses the home-use computer 18 inthe user's home, or the home-use computer 18 identified by the IDcontained in the signal, using the first communication section 70,obtains therefrom the image of the service menu screen shown in FIG. 5,and sends this image to the operation device 22. Having received thedata of the service menu screen, the operation device 22 displays thereceived data on the display panel 40 (S105). Thereafter, the operationdevice 22 begins operating as an operation means of the home-usecomputer 18 in the user's friend's home (S106). That is, data describingthe contents of various operations carried out relative to the operationdevice 22 is corrected based on the standard posture determined by thecalibration section 82, and then sent to the home-use computer 18 in theuser's friend's home.

Further, when no response is returned from any home-use computer 18, theoperation device 22 determines whether or not communication is possiblewith any wireless communication base station 20-1 through 20-n (S107).When it is determined that such communication is possible, the operationdevice 22 accesses the home-use computer 18 in the user's home via thewireless communication base station 20, and sends to the home-usecomputer 18 data concerning the result of detection by the patterndetection section 86, that is, data identifying the behavior (walking orrunning, or utilizing a movement means) which the user is engaged in(behavior type data) (S108). Then, the operation device 22 receives thedata of a service menu screen (FIG. 6 or 7) depending on the behaviortype data, sent from the home-use computer 18 in the user's home, anddisplays the screen image on the display panel 40 (S109). Thereafter,the operation of the operation device 22 is controlled based on theservice menu screen displayed on the display panel 40 (S110).

Meanwhile, when it is determined that communication is not possible withany of the wireless communication base stations 20-1 through 20-n, theoperation device 22 produces the image of the service menu screen shownin FIG. 8 or 9 based on the result of detection by the pattern detectionsection 86, that is, the behavior type data identifying the behaviorwhich the user is engaged in, and displays on the display panel 40(S111). Thereafter, the operation of the operation device 22 iscontrolled based on the service menu screen displayed on the displaypanel 40 (S112).

Finally, a structure of the control section 74 of the home-use computer18, relevant to the case in which the control section 74 functions asthe above-described image viewer will be described.

FIG. 16 shows a relationship among the functions realized by the controlsection 74 by executing an image viewer program. As shown in FIG. 16, inthis case, the control section 74 comprises a collective display buttoninput detection section 88 a, a selection button input detection section88 b, a direction key input detection section 88 c, a posture inputdetection section 88 d, a viewpoint movement section 88 e, a cursormovement section 88 f, a space image rendering section 88 g, a spacedatabase 88 h, an object selection section 88 i, a selection resultstorage section 88 j, and a collective image rendering section 88 k.

Initially, the direction key input detection section 88 c determines thecontent of an operation relative to the direction key 80 everypredetermined period of time, and notifies the cursor movement section88 f of the content. The cursor movement section 88 f updates theposition of the cursor 58 in the space image every predetermined periodof time based on the notified content of operation carried out relativeto the direction key 80.

The posture input detection section 88 d obtains outputs of theacceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38, and notifies the viewpointmovement section 88 e of the content of the outputs. In return, theviewpoint movement section 88 e updates the position of the viewpoint 56and the viewing direction 54 for every predetermined period of timebased on the outputs of the acceleration sensor 36 and the gyroscope 38.

The space database 88 h stores the positions of the image objects 52 inthe virtual three-dimensional space 50. The space image renderingsection 88 g produces an image of the picture viewed from the viewpoint56 in the viewing direction 54 in the virtual three-dimensional space 50based on the positions stored in the space database 88 h, the updatedposition of the viewpoint 56 by the view point movement section 88 e,and the viewing direction 54. The image of the cursor 58 is superimposedin the position updated by the cursor movement section 88 f in theproduced image. The resultant space image is rendered into the displaymemory. The image in the display memory is read for every predeterminedperiod of time, and displayed in the TV receiver.

Thereafter, the selection button input detection section 88 b detects,every predetermined period of time, whether or not the button 32Cserving as a selection button is pressed. Upon detection of the button32C being pressed, the selection button input detection section 88 bnotifies the object selection section 88 i of the fact. In return, theobject selection section 88 i selects some or all of the image objects52 displayed in the area (designated area) designated by the cursor 58,based on the positions of the cursor 58 and the viewpoint 56 and theviewing direction 54 at the time when the button 32C is pressed. Then,identification information of the selected image object 52 is stored inthe selection result storage section 88 j.

The collective display button input detection section 88 a detects,every predetermined period of time, whether or not the auxiliary button34R serving as a collective display button is pressed. Upon detection ofthe auxiliary button 34R being pressed, the collective display buttoninput detection section 88 a notifies the collective image renderingsection 88 k of the fact. Accordingly, when the auxiliary button 84R ispressed, the collective image rendering section 88 k readsidentification information from the selection result storage section 88j and image data on the image object 52 identified by the identificationinformation from the space database 88 h. Then, the collective imagerendering section 88 k renders an image into the display memory, whichcontains respective image data items arranged in a predeterminedinterval in a list format. The image stored in the display memory isread every predetermined period of time, as described above, anddisplayed in the TV receiver. This arrangement allows the TV receiver tosmoothly display the list screen when the auxiliary button 84R ispressed.

In the above-described embodiment, it is possible to designate a part ofthe space image using the direction key 30 to select a desired imageobject 52, while moving in the vertical three-dimensional space 50according to the posture and movement of the operation device 22. Thisenables accurate selection of the image objects 52 placed apart fromeach other in the virtual three-dimensional space 50.

Also, the acceleration sensor 36 detects accelerations of the operationdevice 22 in a plurality of directions, so that the home-use computer 18switches the operation mode thereof from the standby mode to the normaloperation mode, or vice versa, based on the detected accelerationpattern. This arrangement makes it possible for the operation device 22to smoothly begin, or stop, a necessary operation, without requiring theuser to operate a specific button, such as a power button, or the like.

Also, the content of a service menu screen which the home-use computer18 transmits to the operation device 22 is changed according to thepattern detected by the state detection section 96 b of the operationdevice 22. This arrangement allows the user to utilize a service menuscreen appropriate to their current situation. It should be noted thatwhen it is arranged such that the state detection section 96 bdetermines the state of the user, as described above, it is preferablethat relevant information, such as a physical examination result, may beadditionally presented on a service menu screen, or sent to theoperation device 22 to be included in a difference service menu. Whenthe state detection section 96 b has a position measurement means, thehome-use computer 18 can know the user's location. In this case, it ispreferable that the home-use computer 18 sends appropriate informationto the operation device 22 depending on the user's location.

1. An information output system, comprising: a portable operationdevice; and one or more information output devices connected to theoperation device for communication, wherein the operation deviceincludes state detection means for detecting a state of the operationdevice or a user of the operation device, including at least a postureof the operation device, and state information transmission means fortransmitting state information to any of the information output devicesbased on the state detected by the state detection means, and each ofthe information output devices includes information output means foroutputting information depending on the state information transmitted bythe state information transmission means.
 2. The information outputsystem according to claim 1, wherein the state detection meanssequentially detects the state of the operation device or the user ofthe operation device, the operation device further comprises statestorage means for storing the states sequentially detected by the statedetection means, and the state information transmission means transmitsthe state information based on the states stored in the state storagemeans, when beginning communication with any of the information outputdevices.
 3. The information output system according to claim 1, whereinthe state detection means detects the state of the operation device orthe user of the operation device, further including a position of theoperation device.
 4. The information output system according to claim 1,wherein the state detection means detects the state of the operationdevice or the user of the operation device, further including at leastone of the user's fingerprint and heart rate.
 5. The information outputsystem according to claim 1, wherein the information output meansoutputs information further depending on a communication path betweenthe operation device and the information output device.
 6. Aninformation output method, comprising: a state detection step, carriedout by a portable operation device, of detecting a state of theoperation device or a user of the operation device, including at least aposture of the operation device; a state information transmission step,carried out by the operation device, of transmitting state informationto an information output device connected for communication to theoperation device, based on the state detected at the state detectionstep; and an information output step, carried out by the informationoutput device, of outputting information depending on the stateinformation transmitted at the state information transmission step.